Audio 4:10
World Cup qualification reaps soccer windfall

Simon SantowUpdated
Wed Jun 19 13:37:00 EST 2013

Australia's qualification last night in Sydney for the soccer World Cup is a huge boost for the game in the country. The coach has defended his decision to substitute match-winner Tim Cahill with the goal-scorer Josh Kennedy.

Transcript

ELEANOR HALL: Now to that victory by the Socceroos over Iraq last night which will see them going to Rio for the biggest sporting event on the planet.

The Australians have now qualified for their third consecutive World Cup, and given a huge boost to the game in this country, as Simon Santow reports.

SIMON SANTOW: It's often said that soccer, or football as it's known outside Australia, is the sleeping giant on the local sporting scene.

(Sound of soccer commentary and cheering)

SIMON SANTOW: And when one goal can separate two teams, as it did last night in Sydney, it's worth remembering what a difference Josh Kennedy's header in the back of the net can make to the game in Australia.

There are the fans.

SOCCER FAN: Iraq are a good side. Defensively they played well, they pushed the ball around and for a while there I started to have some doubts.

SIMON SANTOW: And the kids?

SOCCER FAN: They were on the edge of their seats as well.

SIMON SANTOW: Now dad says you're all a bit nervous. Is that true?

SON: Yes it is. They were a very good side. But when Tim Cahill came off and Josh came on, I thought we could blow it up.

SIMON SANTOW: And there are the players.

Like Socceroos captain, Lucas Neill, a veteran of world cups in Germany and South Africa.

LUCAS NEILL: Very proud. Proud as a captain, proud as an Australian, as a team, as a nation. We get to build on the momentum we've done now in two campaigns to experience what could be arguably one of the best ever World Cups. You know, who could say it gets any better? It's a dream to be able to go to Brazil of all places to challenge the world on the greatest stage.

SIMON SANTOW: Striker Josh Kennedy is known for his height.

When he came on late in the game, the substitution could've been meaningless or a masterstroke.

JOSH KENNEDY: You know, Bresc had the ball on the right hand side, he cut in a little bit and he got his head up and saw me in the box and put a great delivery in and I was there to do the rest.

So it's been since probably October/November, right up until maybe the last six to eight weeks since I got back to full fitness. So it's been a long haul. You know, it's been hard sometimes but when you see 80,000 people screaming and moments like this, it's all worth it.

TIM CAHILL: You know I'm just happy that we've done it and we can just relax a bit, 'cause it's been emotionally and physically trying and we've answered every single question that has been thrown at us. It's my third and the boss's eighth. So, to Holger as well, it's a pretty special night.

JOURNALIST: What did you think when you were substituted?

TIM CAHILL: I just think of one or more crosses and the boss just says, oh no, don't worry about it, and, he's a genius.

SIMON SANTOW: No one was more relieved than the Socceroos German coach Holger Osieck.

HOLGER OSIECK: It gave me a beautiful feeling and I must admit that I'm very proud that I'm part of this.

COMMENTATOR: That is the final whistle. It's all over now and the bench explodes out onto the field...

SIMON SANTOW: The coach has been to the World Cup before but only as an assistant, helping guide Germany to become champions in 1990.

He stands to reap a rich cash reward from the Football Federation Australia for engineering Australia's qualification.

Last night though, Holger Osieck was doing his best to play down his influence.

HOLGER OSIECK: You can never determine what's going on on the pitch. You can just set stuff in place, you can give technical instruction, you can give directives, but it's basically the players who have to put the ball into the net.

Of course you always hope that it's going to happen for sure and when time is running out it's getting a little bit tight. It's a normal situation.

SIMON SANTOW: The players will enjoy a brief break, but then the job of making the squad and preparing properly for the finals begins.

HOLGER OSIECK: I know that it's going to be a tough year ahead of us in order to get ready but tonight I think we have the right and the privilege to enjoy our qualification.